As we are winding down the days of the 2007 legislature, I would like to give you a brief update of the proposed bills as they relate to the Design Boards. House Bill 413 concerns the State Board of Professional Engineers. It repeals the board’s authority to issue limited licenses. It has been found that it is easier and cheaper to get a reciprocal license than to file and apply for a temporary one. The bill was put forth by the industry and was heard in the House Economic Matters Committee. The Committee has given it a favorable report. It will be sent to the full House for a vote.

There are also two other pieces of legislation that I would like to discuss. One is Senate Bill 88. Senate Bill 88 has to do with the elimination of the rolling clock for prospective licensees taking the Architectural Registration Exam (A.R.E.). There is also departmental legislation that will be introduced to recommend keeping the Design Boards’ special funding for another five years. As of this writing, hearing dates have not been established for these bills, but we are actively preparing to aggressively pursue passage of both bills.

By March 27, 2007, all five Design Boards will have taken final action on a regulation to reduce fees for the Design Boards from $78 to $68. This is a reflection of the surplus in the Special Design Boards Fund. Special funding means all licensing fees are designated solely for the operation of the Design Boards. This move was recommended by the Chairs of the Joint Design Boards and was then presented to respective individual boards. Final action by the boards should be completed by March 27. In an economy where prices are always going up, I am sure that licensees will welcome a $10 dollar fee reduction.

Finally, I would like to thank Certified Interior Design Chair Carol Doering who resigned January 10th, 2007 to relocate to Florida. Carol was appointed to the Board on July 1, 1987 and was elected Chair May 12, 2004. We will miss her and we wish her the very best in her future endeavors.

To review the qualifications for board service visit the design board’s homepage: http://www.dllr.state.md.us/license/design/ and click on a board and the Online Law & Regulations button to see the specific requirements for Appointment to the Board.

If you do a little bit of research, you will find that there are some African American architects who have made contributions to the architectural community since the late 1800s. Take Norma Merrick Sklarek (1928- ), for example. In 1954, she became the first female African American to be licensed in the United States as an architect with the American Institute of Architects (AIA). She later accomplished another first in 1985, becoming the first female African American architect to form her own architectural firm. Among Sklarek's designs are City Hall in San Bernardino, California; the Fox Plaza in San Francisco; Terminal One at the Los Angeles International Airport and the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo.

Jewel Vertner Woodson Tandy (1885-1949) also accomplished some architectural firsts. He became the first registered African American architect in New York state and the first African American to belong to AIA. He helped his father build and develop homes in Lexington, Ky. at an early age and thus had a role model as an inspiration to professionally pursue architecture. One of the first African Americans to graduate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in architecture, Mr. Tandy previously studied under Booker T. Washington at Tuskegee Institute. He is also credited with designing landmark homes for some of the wealthiest residents of Harlem, a bustling hub of learning and culture in the early to mid-1900s.

Then there is the McKissack family, predecessors of the present-day architectural firm McKissack & McKissack, opened in 1905. Moses McKissack was sold into bondage to William McKissack and as a slave learned to be a master builder, a trade passed down through the family to Moses III, born in 1879. It was Moses III who would eventually join his brother, Calvin to form the Nashville, Tn. firm of McKissack & McKissack. The company received national recognition in 1942 when it secured the largest federal contract ever granted to an African American company for the 99th Pursuit Squadron Air Base in Tuskegee, Alabama. Family members continue to be a part of the firm which has designed thousands of facilities since the early 20th century.

African American architects have set examples of dedication and paved the way for others to follow in their footsteps. Norma Merrick Sklarek, Jewel Vertner Woodson Tandy and the McKissack family, we salute you!

On March 14, the Baltimore Architecture Foundation launches its Spring Forum 2007. Wednesdays at noon, the public is invited to bring their lunches to the Berman Auditorium of the Johns Hopkins Downtown Center, Charles and Fayette Streets for the series of lectures. All Forum sessions are free.

March 14: Station NorthDevelopers, including Jubilee Baltimore’s Charlie Duff, discuss plans for the neighborhood, which provides a critical link in the Harbor to Hopkins connection.

March 21: Ed Rutkowski, Executive Director of the Patterson Park Community Development Corporation, discusses the role of community development corporations (CDCs) in Baltimore and why our city has fewer CDCs than other comparable cities.

March 28: The Peale MuseumRepresentatives from the Baltimore City Historical Society, Baltimore Architecture Foundation, and Baltimore Heritage discuss plans to renovate the Peale Museum and reopen it as the Baltimore City History Center.

April 4: Doug McCoach, AIAThe new Baltimore City Planning Director discusses his vision for implementing Baltimore’s new Comprehensive Master Plan.

April 11: Henry Kay, Transportation Planner for the Greater Baltimore Committee, will present “Mobility and More: Prospects for the Red Line.” This talk will discuss the future of the Red Line expansion and its affect on the Baltimore Region.

April 18: Jody Landers, Executive Director of the Greater Baltimore Board of Realtors (GBBR), and Michael Sarbanes, Executive Director of the Citizen’s Planning and Housing Authority (CPHA), present different sides of the issue of affordable housing in Baltimore

April 25: Bob Aydukovic, Vice President of Economic Development for the Downtown Partnership, discusses the Westside and new development.

May 2: Ed Hord, FAIA, founder of Hord Coplan Macht, discusses his firm’s emphasis on “green” design. He will present recent projects and discuss the economic advantages of building “green.”

The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) will hold its 2007 Annual Meeting and Conference June 20-23, 2007 in Denver at the Westin Tabor Center. The Mile High City will bring together NCARB’s board members and executives for the 2007 Annual Meeting and Conference.

The Board for Professional Engineers welcomes Steven A. Arndt as the new mechanical engineer member. Arndt has been a Technical Leader at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for the past 17 years where he handles the planning, development and implementation of the NRC's instrumentation and control research program. He is also a consultant for the energy industry, working primarily for non-profit organizations in the area of technology transfer and evaluation. Arndt has received numerous awards and citations for his work in the areas of nuclear safety and engineering. His accomplishments include leading an international team of engineers in the first development of reactor simulators for Russia and the Ukraine for which he was named a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. He has also been named a Distinguished Alumnus of the Ohio State University, College of Engineering, where he earned degrees in engineering physics and nuclear engineering. Arndt replaces outgoing board member Alison Hunt.

National Engineers Week, February 18  24, 2007 was celebrated locally with the Maryland Society of Professional Engineers and the Maryland Board for Professional Engineers. The event culminated with a celebration at an appropriate venue: the Engineers Club in Baltimore’s Mount Vernon Place.

The evening began with introduction of newly licensed engineers and presentation of their certificates from the Maryland Board for Professional Engineers. Highlights of the Society’s portion of the event include keynote address by Andrew Frank, Deputy Mayor of Baltimore for Neighborhood and Community Development and the presentation of the MDSPE College of Fellows Award to William Gluck, P.E., Chief, Project Management and Design for the Maryland Department of General Services.

Douglas McCoach, AIA, Director of Planning for Baltimore City, was the keynote speaker for the event and discussed Mayor Sheila Dixon's plan for the city in the areas of urban planning, design and development.

William Gluck, P.E., Chief of Project Management and Design, Maryland State Department of General Services, (left) is presented with the Maryland Society of Professional Engineers (MDSPE) College of Fellows Award by David Thaler. P.E., president of MDSPE.

Newly licensed engineers pose with MDSPE President David Thaler, P.E. (far right) after receiving their certificates.

DLLR CELEBRATES BLACK HISTORY MONTHADKINS NAMED BLACK ENGINEER OF THE YEAR

Computer executive Rodney C. Adkins, Vice President of Development for IBM Corporation, was named Black Engineer of the Year at the 21st National Black Engineer of the Year Awards Conference held Feb. 25-17, 2007 in Baltimore, Md. Please click on the following link http://www.beya.org/v3/news_display.php?id=26 to read more about this event, read a complete list of conference honorees and view their photo gallery.

2007 marks the 100th anniversary of engineering licensure in the United States. The National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) is celebrating this milestone by recognizing the successes of licensure’s past and preparing for its future.

NCEES President Louis Raimondi, P.E., L.S., sees the celebration as an ideal platform to broaden outreach to the general public who may know little about what professional engineers (P.E.’s) do, but who benefit greatly from their commitment to excellence. “The 100th anniversary of licensure is an opportunity to raise awareness about the value of licensure,” says Raimondi. “Licensure requires engineers and surveyors to prove themselves and holds them accountable.”

The history of licensure goes back to 1907 when Wyoming State Engineer Clarence T. Johnson found many engineers lacked the training necessary to be competent in the field. Johnston addressed the problem by preparing a bill to mandate registration and to create a board of examiners. The Wyoming legislature passed the bill into law, creating the first U.S. engineering licensure law. Other states soon followed. A decade later, the organization known as NCEES was created to regulate the engineering and surveying professions. The non-profit organization today is a pivotal element in ensuring that the nation’s infrastructure and complex technologies run safely and efficiently.

As it celebrates 100 years of licensure, NCEES remains focused on finding new ways to fulfill its vision of providing leadership in licensure. In reaching out to the next generation of engineers, NCEES launched several initiatives including a campaign targeted at undergraduate engineering students. The themeFinish it!encourages students to begin the process by taking the FE exam to raise awareness about the opportunities licensure will bring to their careers.

NCEES is also reaching out to younger students. Since 2004, it has worked with the National Engineers Week Future City Competition. The nationwide engineering education program involves more than 30,000 middle school students and gives insight to the engineering design process. NCEES is a major sponsor of Design Squad, a new reality TV series aimed at nine- to 13-year-olds and their families. The program debuted nationwide on PBS in February during Engineers Week 2007. You can find more information about Design Squad, including downloadable event guides, by visiting www.pbskids.org/designsquad at the PBS Web site.

Through 2007, persons completing all Interior Design Experience Program (IDEP) requirements by December 31, 2007, can take the entire National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) Examination for free. The one time free exam requires taking all sections in one sitting within one year of completing IDEP.

After 2007, completion of all IDEP requirements by December, 31, 2010, allows persons to take Section III of the NCIDQ Examination for free within one year of completing IDEP. The free offer is offered one time only.

Please note: the application fee and any cancellation or deferral fees must still be paid.

NEW CLARB GRADING AND DRAINAGE COURSE ADDRESSES NEEDS OF YOUNG PROFESSIONALS

The Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards (CLARB) announces the debut of its newest Web-based course: “Fundamentals of Grading and Drainage.” The “C2Ed.” course is designed to meet the needs of young professionals who have limited practical experience in performing site grading plans and is available at: www.c2ed.com.

The Landscape Architect Registration Examination (L.A.R.E.) is designed to determine whether applicants possess sufficient knowledge, skills and abilities to provide landscape architectural services and protect the health and safety of the public. Successful completion of the L.A.R.E. is required for licensure as a landscape architect in the majority of states.

The new grading and drainage course will help young professionals gain the experience they need to be successful in passing the L.A.R.E.

“We have heard from many exam candidates that they don’t get enough practical experience in grading and drainage in school or in the early stages of their careers,” explained CLARB’s Interim Executive Director, Bob Van Hook. “We want to give L.A.R.E. candidates the tools they need to succeed.”

Single entities within the Design Boards are finalizing the October 17, 2006 resolution the Joint Chairs Group of the Design Boards passed urging the five design boards to reduce their current licensing fees by $10, from $78 to $68 for two years.

Although the Joint Chairs Group voted in favor of the resolution at its October 17 meeting, it is necessary for single boards to individually approve the recommendation. The Board for Professional Land Surveyors took its final vote Feb. 7; the Board for Professional Engineers voted Feb. 8; the Board of Architects voted February 28; the Board of Certified Interior Designers voted March 27. The Board of Examiners of Landscape Architects takes its final vote March 26.

The impact of the fee reduction on the surplus of the special fund will become apparent over the next one to two years. It is anticipated that the measure will decrease the size of surplus monies without causing a funding shortage. The Design Boards will monitor the fund to determine if the fee reduction favorably meets its objective--to maintain financial integrity of the fund without compromising the Group’s responsibility to successfully serve licensees, certificate holders and the general public.

Below is a report of the Disciplinary Actions taken by the Design Boards since 2004. Please note that (1) the Boards do not provide information regarding various Consent Orders that do not contain the admission of a particular violation; and (2) the Boards do not provide information regarding cases which are, at the time the information is submitted for publication, still subject to an appeal.

2005  AR-06  Timothy Fennel was FINED $7,500 for violation of Sections 3-601, 3-602, 3-603, and 3-604, Business Occupations and Professions Article, Annotated Code of Maryland, for practicing architecture without a license, for operating an architectural business without a permit, for misrepresenting his authority to practice architecture, and for misrepresenting his authority to operate an architectural business.

2005  AR-01  Christopher Patete was FINED $5,000 for violation of Section 3-604, Business Occupations and Professions Article, Annotated Code of Maryland, for misrepresenting his authority to provide architectural services without a license.

2004  PE-03  William H. Smith was FINED $1,000 for violation of Section 14-502, Business Occupations and Professions Article, Annotated Code of Maryland, for using the designation “P.E.” on the contract proposal, for misrepresenting his licensing status to a client, and for using the term “engineering” in the name of the firm even though neither the Respondent nor any one else at the firm was licensed by the State Board for Professional Engineers.

The Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute (MFRI), the state’s comprehensive training and education system for emergency response personnel, announces its one-day seminar, Surviving Plan Review, to be held May 2, 2007 at the MFRI headquarters on the campus of the University of Maryland-College Park. This all-day workshop is intended for architects, fire protection engineers, interior designers, and plan review specialists who submit plans and drawings to code officials. The class will help such design professionals to give them the information they need to submit complete and accurate plan documents. It will also give plan reviewers a chance to identify their needs and requests in helping to obtain more successful plan approvals. Finally, the event offers designers and reviewers alike an opportunity for professional networking.

The $30 fee includes lunch and payment for continuing education units (CEUs). Please check with your particular licensing board to find out if this course qualifies for CEU credit. You may visit www.mfri.org for more information about this event.

AEC Daily, a magazine for the architecture, engineering and interior design professions, announced the first in a series of series of Educational Podcasts aimed at the architecture, engineering and construction industry. Construction professionals can now learn on the go using a variety of MP3 players, including the Apple iPod®. These

Podcasts are available free of charge through the Apple iTunes Music Store®, various other online search engines, and at http://www.AECdaily.com/podcasts on the AEC Daily Web site.

For more information about the Podcasts, you may also contact Jeff Rice, AEC Daily Corporation, via e-mail at jrice@aecdaily.com or by calling 1-877-566-1199, ext. 82.

Have you ever wanted to look up an article from a past issue of By Design? Well, now you can! By Design has a new archive available on the DLLR Web site. This feature enables readers to retrieve articles from back issues of the newsletter. Click on the BYDESIGN NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE and scroll through the archive to find an article that interests you today.